Florida Senate - 2013 SB 670
By Senator Brandes
22-00396-13 2013670__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Department of Economic
3 Opportunity; requiring the department to create a web
4 page accessible through its Internet website that
5 provides comprehensive data and information that are
6 relevant to the creation of new businesses, or the
7 expansion of existing businesses, within the state;
8 providing purposes of the web page; requiring the
9 department to contact local governmental entities and
10 collect specified data and information; requiring
11 cities and counties to provide notice of changes in
12 data collected by the department; providing an
13 effective date.
14
15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 Section 1. (1) The Department of Economic Opportunity shall
18 create a web page, accessible through its Internet website,
19 dedicated solely to the collection and publication of data and
20 information that are relevant and of significance to the
21 creation of new businesses within the state or the expansion of
22 existing businesses within the state. The purpose of the web
23 page is to:
24 (a) Provide a comprehensive overview of conditions that
25 exist within the various cities and counties of the state that
26 are conducive or advantageous to the creation of new businesses
27 or the expansion of existing businesses.
28 (b) Enable prospective employers both within and outside
29 the state to effectively and accurately evaluate the business
30 climate of cities and counties within the state.
31 (c) Provide prospective business owners and operators and
32 cities and counties within the state with immediate access to
33 specific charges and costs related to the establishment,
34 operation, and maintenance of a business in any city or county
35 within the state.
36 (2)(a) The department shall contact all relevant heads of
37 local government entities to request specific information with
38 respect to conditions that exist within the city or county that
39 impact the creation of new businesses or the expansion of
40 existing businesses within the boundaries of the city or county.
41 Local government entities must submit such information to the
42 department by October 1, 2013. Information submitted to the
43 department should not include quality of life considerations.
44 Information submitted to the department must include, as
45 applicable, but is not limited to, the following:
46 1. Current millage rates for all relevant taxing
47 authorities.
48 2. The rate of any local discretionary sales surtaxes.
49 3. The rate of any local business taxes.
50 4. The rate of any local option food and beverage taxes.
51 5. The rate of any local option fuel taxes.
52 6. A complete fee schedule that includes impact fees, water
53 and sewer connection fees, occupational license fees, stormwater
54 fees, and any other fees that would impact the establishment or
55 expansion of a business.
56 7. Existing sign ordinances.
57 8. Existing tree and landscaping ordinances.
58 9. Stormwater permitting requirements that exceed
59 requirements of the water management districts.
60 10. Current utility surcharges.
61 (b) Local government entities must provide notice to the
62 department of any factor, such as the elimination of, addition
63 of, or change in any items specified in paragraph (a), in as
64 timely a manner as practicable.
65 (c) Local government entities may provide to the department
66 a summary of 1,500 words or less to be included on the web page,
67 stating the advantages to business that exist within the area of
68 the local government. The summary may include quality of life
69 considerations or other factors that in the determination of the
70 local government create conditions that are favorable to
71 business creation or expansion.
72 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.